Bridging the digital divide

Subscribe to our newsletter

Love to bike? And even more when it is for a good cause? Put together a company team and sign up for the 5th edition of Bike to Close the Gap, organised by Close the Gap and DNS Belgium. Proceeds from the event will help to bridge the digital divide in Belgium by providing high quality computers to Belgian non-profit organisations.

On 18 June 2015 your team will have the chance to cycle as many laps as possible on the famous Paterberg in the Flemish Ardennes (Belgium). Last year, 267 cyclists participated, with the result that over 828 assets were distributed to Belgian organisations.

Close the Gap is celebrating its 10 year anniversary on 19 November 2014 . Festivities include presentations from key speakers, followed by a lunch in the presence of Close the Gap’s Patron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

On this special day, Close the Gap will look back at 10 years of bridging the digital divide and inaugurate the “ICT for Development Alliance”, a worldwide partnership for ICT4Development projects. This milestone day will also celebrate the inauguration of Close the Gap’s innovative solar project, a completely mobile “DIGI TRUCK”with Chairman of Umicore and of KBC Group Mr. Thomas Leysen, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Ms. Neelie Kroes, Director of the Department of Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization Ms. Marleen Temmerman and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Our beloved and famous Belgian harmonica player Toots Thielemans will surprise his old friend Desmond Tutu on stage to close this special day.

A special thanks to Deloitte University EMEA for hosting this unique event.

WHEN Wednesday 19 November, from 11h to 14h (welcome as from 10.30) ( Invitation only )
WHERE Deloitte University EMEA at Dolce La Hulpe, Chaussée de Bruxelles 135, 1310 La Hulpe, Belgium

Close the Gap invites the CEOs, CIOs and VP Sustainability Directors among its strategic partners and other interested stakeholders to visit this fascinating country in the heart of Africa from 14 to 18 November. VRT (Flemish public television channel) Journalist and Africa expert Peter Verlinden will guide the trip to give interesting historical insights and facts on the current situation. The trip will take place in different locations in and around Kinshasa and in the Bas-Congo. We will visit several medical and educational projects supported by Close the Gap as well as cultural and historical sites.

Close the Gap proposes an ‘out of the box’ meeting with key business leaders and their teenage children for a unique experience in South Africa. Besides the experience of visiting social, medical and peace-building projects associated with Close the Gap, there will also be a private meeting between the teenagers and their parents and Archbishop em. Desmond Tutu. During this gathering, he will talk to the teenagers and share some of the highlights in his own ‘journey of life’.

Love to bike? And even more when it is for a good cause? Put together a company team and sign up for the 4th edition of Bike to Close the Gap, organised by Close the Gap and DNS Belgium. Proceeds from the event will help to bridge the digital divide in Belgium by providing high quality computers to Belgian non-profit organisations.

On 19 June 2014 your team will have the chance to cycle as many laps as possible on the famous Paterberg in the Flemish Ardennes (Belgium). Last year, 276 cyclists from 40 companies participated, with the result that over 700 computers were distributed to 50 Belgian organisations.

Close the Gap sees it as its growing mission to sensitise its partners on different topics related to ICT4Development and broader issues. Therefore, Close the Gap is organising different “inspiring moments” where experts are invited to open discussions on different subjects and to find synergies between organisations. For the next “inspiring moments” Close the Gap has invited Ian Gilbert (13 May) and Jan De Cock (5 June).

The Junior Achievement Young Enterprise Europe organises “Leaders for a day” for young promising European talents to meet inspiring leaders in Belgium. Leaders-for-a-Day is about being a role model and offering young people a window on the world of work. It gives them a precious opportunity, early on in their lives, to meet and interact with outstanding people in diverse roles. It’s a day of discovery and inspiration.

Mr. Olivier Vanden Eynde, Founder and Managing Director of Close the Gap will have an inspirational speech about his career and achievements for Close the Gap and WorldLoop. Ms. Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission, will close this special day.